Tragedy struck on Thursday morning as a lone auto crash claimed seven lives and left 31 others injured on the Kaltungo–Cham Road in Gombe State.

The Gombe Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Samson Kaura, confirmed the incident, which occurred around 7:30 a.m.

Kaura attributed the crash to a suspected brake failure of a truck transporting soft drinks and 38 passengers—34 males, two females, and two children.

Among the deceased were five males, one female, and a child. The bodies have been deposited at the General Hospital Kaltungo morgue, where the injured victims are also receiving medical attention.

Kaura expressed concern over the practice of people boarding trailers to avoid high transportation costs.

“This is the result of joining trailers. Always consider the potential cost of road crashes and the value of human lives over saving on transportation fees,” he said.

The sector commander urged drivers to prioritize vehicle maintenance to prevent such tragedies, adding that trailers and heavy-duty vehicles are designed for goods, not human passengers.

“We advise against the use of trailers for travel. They are not equipped for passenger safety, and this incident points out the dangers,” Kaura added.

Seven dead, 31 injured in Gombe auto crash – FRSC